What is Paid-In Capital?

Paid-in capital, also known as contributed capital, is used to describe the amount of capital that investors have paid in during the issuance of either common or preferred stock. This process also includes the par value of different shares. 

Paid-in capital is actually a fund that an organization raises by selling its capital. This has nothing to do with continuing (ongoing) operations. 

Paid-in capital is listed on an organizations balance-sheet as stockholders equity. That is indicated along with a balance-sheet entry in the context of additional paid-in capital.

How Does Paid-In Capital Work?

Paid-in capital is also known as contributed capital. It is compared with another type of capital known as additional paid-in capital. Any difference concerning the value between these two types of capital is considered equal to the premium that an investor pays over and above the shares par value. The par value of preferred shares is slightly higher than marginal, however, at present; the majority of common shares have par-values that are only a few pennies. Due to this reason additional paid-in capital is taken as representative for an overall paid-in capital figure. It sometimes appears on balance sheet itself. Paid-in capital is those payments that investors give in exchange for entity stock. This is known as an important component in relation to business equity. Paid-in capital is a contribution from investors side in favor of an organization by buying its stock. The primary market does not buy stock from other open market stockholders. It is known as the secondary market. It includes sare value along with additional paid-in capital. The contributed money by a shareholder does not appear in the paid-in account but exhibits an aggregate amount that investors make. Paid-in capital value is not like additional paid-in capital. Paid-in capital involves par value as well as sold stock. In contrast, additional paid-in capital indicates the selling price of the stock over the par value. 

The formula of paid-in capital works in the following manner; 

Paid-in capital = Par value + Additional paid-in capital 

An alternate understanding appears as paid-in capital equals the additional paid-in capital to exclude the par value from the definition. Hence, you must have a clear idea of the definition while you are in discussion with someone else who might have a different understanding of this term. With regard to common stock, the paid-in capital is based on par value of the stock including additional paid-in capital. The amount of capital is issued to investors. It is to note that this given amount is in excess of the premium that investors pay in return of the shares. Additional paid-in capital plays a significant role in the organizations equity capital before the beginning of the retained earning accumulation; it is also considered a vital capital layer of defense (protection) against possible business losses that appear in the form of deficit concerned with retained earnings. In situations when prices of shares go down (Short of the retirement of any shares), overall account balance related to paid-in capital, particularly entire par value along with amount concerned with additional paid-in capital, needs to be unchanged because the organization carries on (a continuing process) its business. This process allows organizations to get back shares from shareholders at different times by returning some capital to them. These bought back shares at their original purchase cost are listed within the equity section related to shareholders as treasury stock. It is to note that a contra-equity account helps to decrease the total balance concerning shareholders equity. In the case of treasury stock profitable sale than its original cost, the gained profit is called paid-in capital from treasury stock and it is considered as part of shareholders equity. It is to note if the selling price of a stock is less than its purchased price then shareholders equity is restored at pre-share-buyback level. An organization can retire (withdraw) some of the treasury shares and this is another method to remove the treasury stock rather the company reissues it, withdrawal of treasury shares decreases the balance related to paid-in capital, overall par value or extra paid-in capital as it is applicable to many withdrawn treasury shares. Whether the first buying cost of the treasury shares is up or down as compared to the paid-in capital amount related to the no. of removed shares, either the company credits the paid-in capital from the withdrawal of treasury shares to the capital section of the stockholders or debits the retained income for extra loss of value in the capital of the stockholders.

Related Topics

• Managerial Accounting
• Institute of Management Accountants
• Annual Report
• Certified Financial Statement
• Common Size Financial Statement
• Accounting Personnel in an Organization
• Comptroller vs Controller 
• Financial Statement Analysis
• Cost Accounting
• Operating Income
• Profit Margin  
• Paid in Capital
• Retained Cash Flow
• Book Value (Company)
• Adjusted Book Value
• Book Value (Asset)
• Accounting Insolvency